Barrel cleaning machine



June 9, 1959 w, PARKS 2,889,566

BARREL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1a, 1955 r 5 sheets-sheet '1 INVENTOR. 4/44 7:? P4215 irraaA i) June 9, 1959 'w. PARKS Y BARREL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16 '1955 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m x w s IN V EN TOR. 414472? PAP/5 June 9, 1959 w. PARKS I 2,889,566

BARREL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb.'l6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. Mum in:

June 9, 1959 w. PARKS BARREL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Am v Q in 93 INVENTOR. I 4/44 m Pam 5 ..YBY

Arrow Ir I June 9, 1959 w. PARKS 2,889,566

BARREL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1955 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-6 IN. V EN TOR. 20: 4/44 TIP P4915 L CLEG MACHINE This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning barrels, drums and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to a machine for automatically cleaning the exterior surfaces of steel drums or barrels.

Steel drums or barrels, such as 55 gallon steel drums used for storage and shipment of petroleum products, require reconditioning before re-use. Such reconditioning includes cleaning the exterior surfaces of the drums, including the sides of the drum and both ends of the drum. Thorough cleaning of the ends of drums, including the areas adjacent the rims of the drums, has been particularly difiicult.

Means used heretofore for this purpose have been unsatisfactory, among other reasons, because no adequate apparatus has been available for automatically cleaning the ends as well as the sides of drums. Nor has the available apparatus cleaned the ends of the drums satisfactorily.

Automatic means for this purpose should be fully automatic and should be operable to clean thoroughly the sides and both ends of a drum simultaneously and rapidly. To my knowledge, no satisfactory machine for this purpose has been available heretofore.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved drum cleaning apparatus.

Another object is to provide a machine for automatically, simultaneously and rapidly cleaning both ends of and the sides of a drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is capable of. cleaning the ends of a drum automatically, rapidly and thoroughly.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

One form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop plan view of the machine, with certain parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the machine generally in end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the machine in front elevation.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a continuation of Figure 3, showing the means for removing cleaned drums from the solution and tank in which they are cleaned.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the control system of the machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inelusive.

' Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the machine is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and it has a stationary frame 11 and a tank or vat 12 intended to hold a cleaning solu tion 13 which may be of any suitable character such as a caustic solution, a detergent solution or the like. Suitable cleaning solutions are well known in the art and require no detailed description herein. The purpose of the cleaning solution 13 is to clean the exterior surfaces (ends and sides) of drums, several of which are shown in Figure 1 and which are designated by the reference numeral 14. A barrier 15 divides the tank 12 into a receiving compartment 16 and a cleaning compartment 17. Drums 14 roll by gravity into the receiving compartment 16 onto a cradle 18, which is fixed to a shaft 19. If the empty drums 14 are too buoyant to sink, they may be partly filled with the solution 13 to sink them. At the appropriate instant in the cycle of operation of the machine, a drum on the cradle 18 is pivoted to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, by means of a double-acting cylinder 20, its piston (not shown), a rod 25 and a lever 26. The timing of this operation is accomplished in the manner and by the means described hereinafter. The drum 14 rolls over the barrier 15 into the cleaning compartment 17 onto continuously driven rollers 27, which are faced with friction material 28, such as rubber. The facing material is best shown in Figure 2.

The drum 14 on rollers 27 in the cleaning compartment 17 is cleaned by rotating it in the solution 13 and by scrubbing it with two end brushes 29 and 30 and a side brush 31, as is best shown in Figure 3. The end brushes 29 and 30 are hollow, frusto-conical brushes, as illustrated. The side brush 31 is fixed to a shaft 32 which is journaled in the ends of a U-shaped pivot frame 33 which is shown in top plan view in Figure l. a The frame 33 is pivoted at 34 on the stationary frame 11 and it is operated by a double-acting cylinder 35, its piston (not shown) and a rod 36 which are most clearly shown in Figure 2. The righthand end brush 29 (as viewed in Figure 3) is rotatably carried at one end of an arm 41a (see Figure 2) which pivots on a shaft 42 carried by the pivot frame 33. A counterweight 43 is fixed to the opposite end of the arm 41a and it serves to hold the arm down against an oscillator cam 44a which is fixed to a cam shaft 45 which is journaled in the pivot frame 33. The left-hand .end brush 30 (as viewed in Figure 3) is similarly journaled in the outer end of an arm 41b which is similar to the arm 41a and is pivoted on a shaft42a. The shaft 42a, however, is journaled in a bearing 46 which is fixed to a slide plate 47 which is slidable on rods 48 '(see Figures 1 and 4). The opposite end of the arm 41b is similarly provided with a counterweight 43 which serves to hold the arm down in contact with an oscillator cam 44b fixed to the cam shaft 45.

The brushes 29, 30 and 31 are driven by means which will now be described. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a motor 49 mounted on a plate 50 fixed to the pivot frame 33, is connected by sprockets 51, 52, 53 and 54 and chains 56 and 57 to the shaft 32 of brush 31. The same motor and part of the same transmission drive the right-hand end brush 29 through sprockets 58, 59, 60 and 61 and chains 62 and 63. The sprocket 60 is on the same shaft 42 about which the arm 41:: pivots. Hence, the oscillating motion imparted to end brush 29 by the cam 44a, does not slacken or tighten the drive chain 63. The end brush 30 (see Figures 1 and 4) is driven by a motor 64, which is fixed to the slide plate 47, by means of a transmission comprising sprockets 70, 71, 72 and 73 and chains 74 and 75. The sprocket 72 is on the same shaft 42a as the arm 41b. Hence the oscillating motion imparted to the brush 30 by the cam 44b does not slacken or tighten the chain 75. The cam shaft 45 is rotated by a motor and gear reducing unit 76, sprockets 76a and 76b, and chain 77. The plate 47 is slidable on rods 48 which are fixed to the pivot frame 33. It is moved, together with the motor 64, the arm 41b and the left-hand end brush 30, by a doubleacting cylinder 78 having a piston (not shown) and a rod '79 which is connected to the plate 47.

The side brush 31 and the rollers 27 rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, thereby rotating the drum 14 in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. The end brushes 29 and 30 are preferably rotatedso as to oppose such clockwise rotation of the drum 14. An advantage of this counter-rotating force is that it prevents a tendency of the drum to rotate too fast and to jump from the rollers 27 and the compartment 17. Also, the brushes 29 and 30 are caused to dig into the areas adjacent the rims of a drum. Another important feature of the end brushes 29 and 30 is their oscillation, which is imparted by the oscillator cams 44a and 44b and the pivoted arms 41a and 41b. The elfective diameter of the end brushes is thereby increased, and a desirable rubbing action is imparted to these brushes.

A complete cycle of operation requires that, after a drum has been rotated, scrubbed and thoroughly cleaned in the compartment 17, it be removed to allow entry of the next drum. By means of the control system described hereinafter, the cylinder 78 moves the slide plate 47 to'the left-as viewed in Figure 1, thereby moving the left-hand 'end brush 30 away from the adjacent end of the drum 14. Then the pivot frame 33 is pivoted clock- 'wise as viewed in Figure 2, by the cylinder 35 and rod is accomplished by means which will now be described:

Referring to Figure 3, a ram 80 is provided which comprises a rod 81 having a plate 82 fixed to its lefthand end (as viewed in Figure 3), such rod being slidable through the adjacent wall of the tank 12 and through a bushing 83 and being supported on rollers 34. The rod 81 is reciprocated by means including a lever 85 which is rotatably connected to the outer or right-hand end of the rod -81 and to one end of a link 86, the other end of which is rotatably connected tothe frame 11. A double-acting cylinder 87 is provided having a piston (not shown) and a rod 88 which is connected to the lever-85. It will be apparent that, when the piston of the cylinder 87 moves from left to right as viewed in Figure 3, the ram 80 will be'retracted and that when the piston of the cylinder 87 moves from right to left, the

ram-will push a drum out of the cleaning compartment 17. This operation is timed by the means described hereinafter to occur at the conclusion of the cleaning operation and after the side brush 31 and end brushes 29 and 30 have been moved to clear the way.

Referring now to Figure 5, drums 14 which have been cleaned in the cleaning compartment 17, are pushed by the ram 80 (see Figure 3) into an extension 17a of the cleaning compartment 17 and ultimately onto a cradle 95 against rollers 96. The rollers 96 are carried by a pivot -member -97 fixedto a shaft 98. The shaft 98 is rotated by a double-acting cylinder 99 having a piston (not shown) and a rod 100 which is slidably connected at its outer end to a lever 101 which is fixed to the shaft 98. Once during'each cycle of operation of the machine, a

cleaned drum is up-ended to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 5, by operation of the mechanism suitable source of power (not shown). A manual switch 113 maybe provided in the lead 112 to provide a means for manually opening the circuit and shutting down operation of the machine. The condition of the circuit illustrated in Figure 6 is that which exists at the conclusion of the washing cycle, i.e., when a drum 14 supported on rollers 27 in the cleaning compartment 17 has been rotated a predetermined time found to be suificient for a thorough washing and cleaning operation. This timing is governed by the speed of rotation of the cam shaft 45, -one revolution ,of which corresponds to a cycle of operation. The cam shaft 45 is rotated by the motor and gear reduction unit 76. Both the cam shaft 45 and the motor 76 are shown in Figures 1 and 6. The speed of the motor 76 can be adjusted as desired.

Current to operate the motor 76, hence to revolve the cam shaft 45, is supplied through the main power lead 112, a lead 114 connected to one of the terminals of the motor, a lead 115 connected to the other terminal of the motor, a normally open switch 116, a lead 117 and the other main power lead 111. The switch 116 is held in closed position during the washing cycle by the slide plate 47 which supports motor 64 (see Figure 1). On the cam 4412, which is fixed to and rotated by the cam shaft 45, is a pin 126 (which is also shown in Figures 1 and 4). The washing cycle is terminated when the cam 44b is rotated to a position to contact the pin 126 with and momentarily close a normally open switch 127. (The switch 127, and other like switches of the control system 1119, may be of standard construction, e.g., spring loaded to open position, with arms or buttons which are swept by moving actuators such as the pin 126 to momentarily close the switch.) Closing of the switch 127 causes flow of current through main power lead 112, a lead 128, the switch 127, a lead 129, the solenoid 130a of a valve 131 and leads 132 and 211 to the other power lead 111. This momentarily energizes the solenoid 1311a. The valve 131 is connected with the cylinder 78 (which is also shown in Figure 1) by lines 133 and 134. The energization of solenoid 1311a places the valve 131 in a position to supply pressure to the cylinder 78 in such manner as to push the plate 47, and with it the motor 64 and the left-hand end brush 36 (see Figures 1 and 3) away from the adjacent end of the drum 14. (It will be understood that the valve 131, and other like valves in the control system 110, are supplied with a fluid under pressure, e.g., compressed air, from a suitable source.) Forward movement of the slide plate 47 also has the following effect: It releases the switch 116 and allows it to open. This de-energizes the motor 76 and stops rotation of the cam shaft 45 and cams 44a and 44b.

The slide plate 47 also carries a hook for actuating a normally open switch 147. During the forward stroke of the plate 47, its hook 145 contacts and momentarily closes the switch 147. Current is, therefore, allowed to flow from power lead 112 through the switch 147, a lead 155, the solenoid 156a of a valve 157 and a lead 158 to the other power lead 111. This energizes the solenoid 156a. The valve 157 is connected by lines 159 and 160 to opposite ends of the cylinder 35. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, the cylinder 35 is connected by a rod 36 to the pivot frame 33. Energization of the solenoid 156a places the valve 157 in a position to supply air pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 35. This causes pivoting of the pivot frame 33 in clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 6, thereby raising the side brush 31 and both end brushes 29 and 30 from the drum 14.

The pivot frame 33 has hooks and 166 which actuate normally open switches 167 and 168, respectively. During the clockwise movement just described, the hook 165 closes the switch 167 momentarily, which causes current to flow from power lead 112 through a lead 169, the switch 167, a lead 170, the solenoid 171a of a valve 172 and lead 173 to the other power lead 111. This energizes the solenoid 171a. The valve 172 is connected by lines 174 and 175 to the cylinder 87 which, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, is connected by the rod 88 and the lever 85 to ram 30. Energization of the solenoid 171a places the valve 172 in a position such that pressure is delivered to the cylinder 87 in such manner as to cause a forward stroke of the ram 80, i.e, to the left as viewed in Figures 3 and 6. This pushes the drum 14 in the cleaning compartment 17 to the left (as viewed in Figure 3) into the extension 17a which is shown in Figure 5.

The ram 80 is provided with hooks 176 and 177 for actuating normally open switches 178 and 179, respectively. During its forward stroke the hook 176 momentarily closes the switch 178 which causes current to flow from the power lead 112 through a lead 180, the switch 178, a lead 181 and the solenoid 182a of a valve 183 to the other power lead 111. This energizes the solenoid 18212. The valve 183 is connected by lines 184 and 185 to the cylinder 99 which, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is connected by means of a rod 100, etc. to the cradle 95. Energization of the solenoid 182a places the valve 183 in position to supply pressure to the cylinder 99 in a manner to rotate the cradle 95 counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, thereby upending a cleaned drum 14 from the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5 to the position shown in broken lines. The lever 101, which forms a part of the mechanism for operating the cradle 95, has a hook or pin 190 for actuating a normally open switch 191. The pin 190 momentarily closes the switch 191 near the end of the counterclockwise movement of the lever 101. The closing of switch 191 causes current to flow from the power lead 112 through a lead 192, the switch 191, a lead 193, the solenoid 171b of valve 172 and the lead 173 to the other power lead 111. This energizes the solenoid 171b which places the valve 172 in position to supply pressure to the cylinder 87 in such manner as to cause a return stroke of the ram 80.

Near the end of its return stroke the hook 177 on ram SO-momentarily closes the switch 179 which results in flow of current from the power lead 112 through switch 179, a lead 194 and the solenoid 19511 of a valve 196 to the other power lead 111, thus energizing the solenoid 195a. The valve 196 is connected by lines 197 and 198 with the cylinder 20 which, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, is connected by means of a rod 25 and a lever 26 to the shaft 19 of cradle 18. Energization of the solenoid 195a places the valve 196 in position to deliver pressure to the cylinder 20 in such a manner as to rotate the cradle 18 clockwise as viewed in Figures 2 and 6, thereby effecting delivery of a drum to the cleaning compartment 17.

The momentary closing of switch 179 during the return stroke of ram 80 also causes current to flow through a lead 1940 to the solenoid 18212 of valve 183. This energizes the solenoid 18212 which places the valve 183 in position to deliver pressure to the cylinder 99 in such manner as to pivot the cradle 95 clockwise as viewed in Figures 5 and 6 to the position shown for reception of the next drum.

The lever 26 has a pin 199 which momentarily closes a normally open switch 200 near the end of its clockwise movement. The closing of switch 200 causes flow of current through the power lead 112, a lead 205, the switch 200 and a lead 206 to the solenoid 156b of valve 157. This energizes the solenoid 15617 which places the valve 157 in position to deliver pressure to the cylinder 35 in such manner as to rotate the pivot frame 33 counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 2 and 6, thereby bringing the side brush 31 into engagement with the side of the drum 14 in the cleaning compartment 17, and also bring the left-hand end brush 30 (see Figure 3) into alignment with, but as yet not in contact with the adjacent end of the drum 14. During its counterclockwise movement the hook 166 on pivot frame 33 contacts and momentarily closes the switch 168, which results in flow of current through the power lead 112, a lead 207, the switch 168, a lead 208 and the solenoid 1951) of valve 196 to the other power lead 111. This energizes the solenoid 195b, thereby placing the valve 196 in position to deliver pressure to the cylinder 20 in such manner as to pivot the cradle 18 back to the position shown in Figures 2 and 6 for reception of the next drum 14 in the receiving compartment 16. The closing of switch 168 also causes flow of current through a lead 209 to the solenoid 130!) of valve 131, a lead 210 and the lead 211 to the other power lead 111, thereby energizing the solenoid 130b. Energization contact with the adjacent end of the drum 14 in the cleaning compartment 17. At the end of its return stroke, the plate 47 contacts and closes the switch 116, thereby restoring flow of current to the motor 76 and causing the cam shaft 45 to commence revolving again.

A complete cycle of operation of the machine is thereby completed, as will be apparent. At the outset of a days operation, after the manual switch 113 is closed, it may be necessary to initiate operation of the machine by other means, e.g., by manually closing the switch 179, which will result in operation of the cradle 18 to deliver a drum to the cleaning compartment 17. The machine will then continue to operate automatically.

Timing can be accomplished by trial and error to determine the time required to effectively clean a drum. The motor 76 will be regulated to rotate the cam shaft 45 at the rate of one revolution for each cycle period.

The side brush 31 thoroughly cleans the sides of a drum while the end brushes thoroughly clean the ends. This operation is speedy and thorough; it is fully automatic;

and it is dependable. Timing is easily accomplished in the 7 manner described. The use of hollow, frusto-conical end brushes 29 and 30 makes possible a much more effective cleaning of the ends of drums, particularly in close proximity to the rims of the drums. This has been a difiicult problem heretofore.

It will, therefore, be apparent that an automatic barrel or drum cleaning machine (which is also adaptable to other containers and articles of suitable shape) has been provided which satisfies'the objects set forth hereinabove.

I claim:

I. A drum cleaning machine comprising a cleaning tank for holding a body of cleaning solution, means for supporting a drum in said tank at least partly submerged in said solution and in horizontal position, means for rotating said drum about its horizontal axis, a side brush capable of contacting the side wall of said rotating drum and extending the length thereof, a pair of end brushes capable of contacting the ends of said rotating drum, a pivot frame supporting all of said brushes for pivoting about a horizontal axis between a first, operative position wherein the respective brushes are in engagement with the side and ends of said rotating drum and a second, inoperative position clearing the drum and tank for ejection of a cleaned drum and deposit of another drum, and means mounting one of the end brushes for horizontal movement to separate it from the adjacent end of a drum, and means acting on one end of a drum to eject the same in an axial direction.

2. A drum cleaning machine comprising a cleaning tank for holding a body of cleaning solution, means for supporting a drum in said tank at least partly submerged in said solution and in horizontal position, means for rotating said drum about its horizontal axis, a cylindrical side brush capable of contacting the side wall of said rotating drum and extending the length thereof, a pair of flat face end brushes capable of contacting the ends of said rotating drum, a pivot frame supporting all of said brushes for pivoting about a horizontal axis between a first, operative position wherein the respective brushes are in engagement with the side and ends of said rotating drum and a second, inoperative position clearing the drum and tank for ejection of a cleaned drum and deposit of another drum, and means mounting one of the end brushes for movement relatively to said pivot frame to separate it from the adjacent end of a drum, and means acting on one end of a drum to eject the same in an axial direction.

3. A drum cleaning machine comprising a cleaning tank for holding a body of cleaning solution, means for supporting a drum in said tank partly submerged in said 7 lsolntionand in horizontal position, means for rotating said drum about its horizontal axis, a cylindrical side brush capable of contacting the side wall of said rotating drum and extend thelength thereof, a pair of flat face end brushes capable of contacting the ends of said rotating drum, a pivot frame supporting all of said brushes for pivoting about a horizontal axis between a first, operative position wherein the respective brushes are in engagement with the side and ends of said rotating drum and a second, inoperative position clearing the drum and tank for ejection of a cleaned drum and deposit of another drum, slide means mounting one of the end brushes for sliding movement'to and from the adjacent end of a drum, ejection r means for ejecting a drum from said tank in an axial directhe adjacent end of the drum, pivoting of said pivot frame to its second position and actuation of said ejection means to .eject a cleaned drum from said tank.

4. In a barrel cleaning machine of the type comprising a cleaning tank, means for supporting a barrel on its side .in the tank for spinning the barrel about its longitudinal axis, a rotary side brush supported above said barrel and movable into operative engagement with the top surface of suchbarrel and also away from such position to allow ejection of a cleaned barrel and entry of another barrel, the improvement which comprises a pair of rotary end brushes each having a fiat circular cleaning face supported in a vertical plane, said end brushes being supported at opposite ends of said tank, at least one of said end brushes being movable into and out of contact with the adjacent face of a barrel in the tank to clear the barrel for removal from the tank; said improvement also comprising, means for oscillating each end brush in a vertical plane while the ,barrel is spinning in the tank, end ejection means for ramming an end of a barrel in the tank and ejecting such barrel in an axial direction and means for raising at least one, ,of said end brushes clear of a barrel to permit such ejection and for lowering said brush after ejection of a barrel,

5. The improvement of claim 4 including also barrel upending means for upending an ejected barrel.

6. A barrel cleaning machine comprising a tank for supporting a barrel on its side in a wash liquid, means for spinning such barrel about its long axis, a pivot frame supported above said tank for pivotal motion about a horizontal axis parallel to a barrel in the tank, a rotary side brush supported by said frame in parallelism to a barrel in the tank, means for pivoting said frame upwardly at the end of a cleaning cycle sufiiciently to allow ejection of a cleaned barrel and downwardly to contact the side brush with the next barrel, a pair of end brushes each supported for movement with said pivot frame and also for oscillatory movement in a vertical plane relatively to said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,530 Hoefileur Jan. 16, 1934 2,195,202 Connal Mar. 26, 1940 2,454,924 Hurst Nov. 30, 1948 2,628,378 Gilbert et a1 Feb. 17, 1953 

